Vacuum cleaner



Aug. 8, 1939. D M. Dow

VACUUM CLEANER Filed April 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M M270 l l l 34- ATTOR Y Aug. 8, 1939. Dow 2,168,899

VACUUM CLEANER INVENTOR BY Want Patented Au 3, 1939- UNITED STATES,

. a oasoa vacuum cwanan Dewey M. Dow, Toledo, 'Ohio, asaignor to Air- Way Electric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, hio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 13, me, seri l No. 74.012

150laims.

' l0 and. arrangement of the rotatable connection between fan housing and suction chamber, the fan driving mechanism and the housing means therefor.

Specifically, it is aimed to provide a solution 1-! for the problem of securing a dust tight rotatable connection between fan casing and suction chamber, which will remain in proper functioning condition over an extended period of time without attention; 1. e., can not get out of order.

.20 The invention further contemplates achieve- 4 ment of the foregoing objects in an arrangement wherein the parts can be readily and easily assembled and disassembled.

It is also aimed to achieve these objects in an arrangement wherein greatly increased suction is obtained by making the fan casing double with two inlets, and two rotatable connections which of necessity must be opposed to each other.

where the double fan feature is employed, the

30 Ian shaft must necessarily pass through the suction passages of the suction chamber, and the invention provides an arrangement for mounting the shaft in'bearings and sheathing it'in the regions of passage of dust laden air so that threads,

.145 etc., will have no opportunity to wind around it.

The bearings cooperate with the sheathing sleeves to secure them in the walls of the suction I chamber throughwhich the shaft must pass in order to have connection to the driving motor. .40 The problems are more complex in such an or-' ganization thari in the case of a single fan housing, At the same time, the'sleeves serve as holders for the bearings, so that sleeve and bearing may be inserted or removed as a unit. Another object is to provide a raisable cover for covering most of the mechanism on top of the suction chamber, which coverserves also as part of the means for housing the fan driving and .agitator driving means.

Anotherobject is to provide a practical ar rangement of the foregoing features, in which the agitator driving belt is completely sealed against passage of air through it into the subs atmospheric region at the opening where the belt unit F (Fig. 4), a removable cover unit G for cov- .ing iii and two elbows 21 detachably secured from the belt housing into the suction chamber, so as to avoid loss of suction.

Another object is to provide a sheet metal double ran casing of unique and extremely simple construction wherein two fan chambers are pro- 5 duced. It is also aimed to provide, in such a casing,'a scientifically correct air discharge cut-off.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cleaner embodying the invention, parts being broken away to better 11- lustrate the construction. 0 Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view ofthe same taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

ins.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the fan Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the Ian casing cut-ofl. r a

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectionalview showing the handle connection to the fan casing.

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view showing the rotatable connection between the fan casing and the suction chamber.

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective sectional view of the fan shaft bearing assembly. a A

Fig. 10 is a. detailed sectional view of the motor mounting and the drive housing partition, and

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional view through the periphery of the fan c'asing. L

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the belt compartment partition wall.

The invention deals with the type of vacuum cleaner construction-illustrated in my pending application, Serial Number 66,882, filed March 3, 35, 1936, and the present application constitutes a continuation in part of that application.

The cleaner comprises generally a suction chamber A, a suction unit 3, a rotary agitator unit 0 mounted in the suction chamber A, an electric motor and power transmitting mechanism D for driving the fan and rotary agitator,

a handle assembly E rigidly-attached to the su tion unit B, an air .flltering and dust collecting,

I for travel over the surface to be cleaned.

The suction chamber A comprisesja body castthereto. The forward region ofthe body member ill comprises a roughly semi-cylindrical agi-. tatcr chamber. l2 opening downwardly. The bottom of the chamber II is open, forming the Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the fan cas- 15 inlet month which is defined between stainless steel lips l3 and I4, the latter secured to the forward edge of the suction chamber bottom plate I I, as described in the aforesaid prior application. The bumper l8, agitator spindle IS, with brush elements 20 and flexible beater elements 2| thereon, the guard 22 secured to buttons 23, the depression 5 in the top wall of the body casting 10, receiving the motor housing 24, the bifurcated tubular portions 25 of the body casting ||1 opening upwardly and communicating with the lower ends of the elbows 21, and the horizontal plane 26 on which the upper extremities of the body portion |0 are finished, are all as described in the prior application.

Elbows 21 are secured to the body portion ID by machine screws 28 (Fig. 3) and 29 (Fig. 1). The upper ends terminate in outlets 30 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 8) which are defined by radially extending peripheral shoulders 3|. The suction mechanism B includes a fan casing comprising complementary drawn sheet metal members 32 joined on a central plane perpendicular to their common axis by means of out-turned flanges 33 and 34 respectively, the latter being bent up on the flange 33 as at 35. A dividing wall 36 is secured between the flanges 33 and 34, and divides the fan casing into complementary fan chambers. The dividing wall 36 has a circular opening 31a, coaxial with the axis of rotation of the fan, which opening is filled by the fan impeller 31. The impeller 31' is double, comprising two identical impellers each having a skirt 38, the two skirts being secured together upon a hub 39.

The hub 33 in turn is secured upon a fan shaft 40 which is mounted in bearing bushings 4| each of which in turn is mounted in the expanded region 42 of a sheath sleeve 43. The expanded region 42 of the sleeve is mounted in a boss 44 formed integrally with the outer wall 45 of the elbows 21.

The sleeve is positioned by a flange 46 outturned at the end of the expanded portion 42 andthe bushing 4| has a corresponding flange 41 which positions the bushing in the sleeve.

The sleeve 43 extends through the outlet 30 coaxial therewith, and into the fan housing 32 and is telescoped within an axial flange 48 formed on the hub 33. The function of the sleeve 43 is to enclose the shaft 40 so that threads, lint, etc..

.carried by the dust laden air stream flowing around the shaft will not wind upon the shaft. Being mounted between the boss 44 and the bushing 4|, the sleeve is rigidly secured in its proper position, the bushing serving to reenforce it from within so that objects carried by the air stream striking the sleeve will not tend to collapse the expanded portion 42 and loosen the sleeve in its mounting.

The fan casing fi 'has oppositely projecting inlet necks 49 pressed into engagement with the axial flanges 50 forming the termination of the side walls of the fan casing. The necks 49 have out-turning flanges 5|.pressed against the edges of the flanges 50 to provide secure retention of the necks and also to provide fitting engagement with the linings of the shoulders 3| of the elbows with thebushings 52.

The collars 43 are adapted torotate against the bushings 52 thus allowing the fan casing to swingin unison with the movement of the handle of the cleaner. The fit between the collar 49 and the bushings 52 is made as snug as is consistent with free rotation of the. fan casing under handle 7 movement.

cause the bushing 52 to wear, the elbows 21 may' be detached from the body portion I!) of the sue-- tion chamber, the fan casing disassembled from the elbows and the bushings 52 may then be replaced by new bushings pressed onto the outlets 30. It may be noted at this point that by forming the suction chamber in several sections, the elbows being detachably mounted on the re mainder of the suction chamber, the fan casing may be assembled or disassembled without difficulty.

The drive mechanism D comprises pulleys 55 on the ends of the fan shaft 40 projecting beyond the elbows 21, a motor 55 having a shaft 51, pulleys 58 on the respective ends of the shaft 51, belts 59 connecting the pulleys 55 to the pulleys 58, a smaller pulley 60 formed integrally with one of the pulleys 58, and a belt 6| connecting the pulley 60 to the spindle of the agitator IS. The belt 6| passes through an opening 62 in the'top wall of the body l0.

The belts are covered by the side regions of the cover G. The latter includes the peripheral wall 63 and side walls 64, the lower edges of the latter being fitted againstthe top of the body In at its forward end, from the point a to the points b-b in Fig. l, and thence projecting upwardly and rearwardly to meet the rear extremities of the peripheral wall 63 at cc. The line a,b--b lies entirely in the plane 26.

The spaces between the points b-b and 0-0 are closed by plate 65, secured at 66 to the elbows 21 and extending into engagement with the inner faces of the walls 64.

Coacting with the side regions of the cover G and the' plates to form belt compartments, are partition walls 61 (Fig. 12) their upper edges shaped at 63 to fit the peripheral wall 63, their lower edges shaped at 69 to fit the plates 65, and at 10 to fit upon the ledges 1| (Fig. 2) defining the end extremities of the depression I6. 10 is a flange that is secured upon ledge 1| by screws 12. The shafts 40 and 51 project through openings 13 and 14 respectively in the partition wall 61.

The motor 56 is mounted upon crescent shaped rubber sandwich mounting 15 secured at 16 to the ends of the motor, each having an angle bracket 11 resting upon the ledge 1| and secured thereon by the screw 12.

One side wall 64 of the cover G has an opening defined by an outwardly projecting flange 18 (Fig. 2), which opening is closed by a removable cover plate 19 (Fig. 1). This allows access to the belt 6| without removing the motor cover G. The latter is secured in place bya screw 80 (Fig. 2) extended through the center of the lower forward extremity of wall 63 into the bracket of the headlight H, and by screws 8| (Fig. 1) extended through spacer brackets 82 into-the elbows 21.

The belt housing opposite the removable cover plate 19 has in its plate 55 a series of openings 83 (Fig. 3) through which air enters the belt housing. The air thence passes through partition 61 and into the motor compartment, thence through suitable openings into'the housing of the motor 56 at one end, thence through the housing to the other end, where it is blown out of the housing through openings 84 by means of a conventional motor ventilating fan (not shown). Thence .the airescapes from beneath the cover G through space between the cover and the fan housing 32. d

The handle assembly E includes a handle shaft 85 mounted in a sleeve 85 having ears 81 secured to projecting web portions 88 of the fan housing 32. An apron 88 is snapped onto the sleeve 86 and retained by indented regions 88. The current conductor mechanism IIIv is received within the apron 88 and extends into the handle shaft 85.

The fan case has an outlet IIII formed of half sections made integrally with the body 32 of the fan case. The partition wall 38 is cut away at I82 to allow the exhaust air streams to unite in the outlet I8I, leaving extensions I83 and I84 projecting between the flanges 33 and 34 respectively of the lower side of the outlet I8I, and between the ears 88, respectively.

;The fan casing cut off comprises .a rectangular sheet of metal I85, slotted at I86 to receive the perforations in the fan case 32 and may be bent over. The upper end of the member I88 is bent rearwardly at III and welded tothe upper wall of the discharge outlet IM to form a brace. The upper ends of the member I are curved forwardly and welded to the peripheral wall of the fan case at H2.

The cover G is provided with a rubber bumper II3 the lower forward end of which forms a light reflector H4.

The dust collector mechanism F comprises an inner bag II5-of porous paper, having a neck attached to the coupler II8 which is secured in the outlet I8I, and an outer bag II! the upper edges of which are hung upon rods I I8. The ends of the rods II8 are socketed in openings H8 in brackets I28 formed integrally with ears 8'! and bent laterally from the rear ends thereof.

The wheel mounting mechanism I comprises front wheels 82 and rear Wheels 83, the latter mounted in the end of a 'sheet metal bracket 84. The other end of the bracket 84 is mounted on a shaft 85 journalled in bearings 85 on the throat members 25. To one end of the shaft 85 is secured an adjusting lever 81. A spring operated bolt 88 is slidably mounted in the lever 81 and engages openings 88 in a bracket I88 secured to one of the throats 25 by the screws 28.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber beginning with a carpet engaging mouth and terminating in a pair of spaced opposed axially aligned outlets, a fan casing having a pair of oppositely facing inlets associated withsaid-outlets and enclosing a shaft for a fan, a, sleeves carried respectively by remote wall regions of the chamber and projecting toward each other through said outletts and inlets into the fan casing, their inner ends spaced apart, portions of the shaft being sheathed in said sleeves in the regions of pas e ofdust laden air streams, and a fan impeller ed on said shaft between said spaced ends 0 sleeves. 7

2. In a vacuum chamber, a suction chamber, a fan casing having a pair of oppositely facing inlets and enclosing a shaft for a fan, said inlets communicating with said chamber, a pair of sleeves carried respectively by remote wall regions of the chamber and projecting toward each other through said inlets into the fan casing, their inner ends spaced apart, portions of the shaft being sheathed in said sleeves in the regions of passage of dust laden air streams, a fan impeller mounted on said shaft between .said spaced ends of the sleeves, at least one end of said shaft projecting through and beyond one of said wall regions, a motor mounted on the body of said cleaner ahead of the fan casing, the axes of'said motor and said shaft being transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, horizontal, and parallel to each other, and driving means connecting said shaft and the shaft of the motor.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a fan casing having a pair of oppositely facing inlets and enclosing a shaft for a fan, said inlet. communicating with said chamber, a pair of sleeves carried respectively by remote wall regions of the chamber and projecting toward each other through saidinlets into the fan casing, their inner ends spaced apart, portions of the shaft being sheathed in said sleeves in the regions of passage of dust laden air streams, a fan impeller mounted on said shaft between said spaced ends 'of the sleeves, at least one end of said shaft projecting through and. beyond one of said wall regions, a motor mounted on the body of said cleaner ahead of the fan casing, the axes of said motor and said shaft being transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, horizontal, and parallel to each other, driving means connecting said shaft and the shaft of the'motor, a rotary agitator mounted in the suction chamber below said motor,'its axis parallel to the axes of motor and fan, and driving means connecting the motor to said agitator.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber beginning with a carpet engaging mouth and terminating in an outlet, 9. fan casing having an inlet rotatably associated with said outlet, at

sleeve carried by a wall region of said chamber and projecting through said outlet and inlet into the fan casing, a shaft projecting through said sleeve and sheathed thereby against the dust laden air stream, and an impeller mounted on the shaft adjacent the inner end of the said sleeve.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chambe beginning with a carpet engaging mouth and terminating in an outlet, a sleeve carried by a wall region of said chamber and projecting through said outlet, a bearing mounted in said sleeve, a fan casing having an inlet rotatably associated with said outlet, a fan impeller in said casing, disposed adjacent the inner end of said sleeve, and a shaft journalled in said bearing, sheathed in said sleeve in the region of passage of the dust ladeng air stream, and carrying said imp l 6. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber beginning with a carpet engaging mouth and terminating in an outlet,a fan casing having an inlet rotatably associated with said outlet, a sleeve carried by a wall region ofthe chamber and projecting through said oiitlet and inlet into the fan casing, a fan impeller in the fan including a body portion and an elbow projecting from the body portion and terminating in a lateral outlet, a sleeve carried by the outer wall of the elbow, coaxial with said outlet, a fan casing having an inlet rotatably associated with said outlet, a fan impeller in said casing, disposed adjacent the inner end of the sleeve, and a shaft sheathed in said sleeve in the region of passage of the dust laden air stream, and carrying said impeller.

8; In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber including a body portion and a suction elbow, said elbow terminating in a lateral outlet and having a boss in its outer wall, a sleeve having an enlarged outer end region mounted in the boss, said sleeve projecting through said outlet, 9. bearing bushing mounted in said enlarged region of the sleeve, a fan casing having an inlet neck rotatably mounted on said outlet, a fan impeller in said casing, disposed adjacent the inner end of said sleeve, and a shaft journalled in said bearing, projecting through said sleeve and carrying said impeller.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, including a body portion and an elbow communicating with and projecting upwardly from said body portion and having a lateral outlet, a fan casing having an inlet associated with said outlet, an impeller in said casing, a shaft on which said impeller is mounted, projecting through said outlet and through the outer wall of said elbow, a motor disposed forwardly of said fan casing and having a shaft parallel to the fan shaft, a partition secured to the suction chamber in engagement with the outer face of said outer wall of the elbow-and projecting forwardly beyond said motor shaft, both of said shafts projecting through said partition, a cover covering the motor and said elbow, a bottom plate secured to the suction chamber and projecting laterally from said partition below the mean level of said shafts, said cover having a side wall the lower region of which meets the outer edge region of said bottom plate to form a drive housing, and drive mechanism connecting said fan and motor shafts and housed within said housing, said cover being raisable while the bottom plate remains stationary.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber including a body portion and an elbow com municating with and projecting upwardly from said body portion and having a lateral outlet, a. fan casing having an inlet associated with said outlet, an impeller in said casing, a shaft on which said impeller is mounted, projecting through said outlet and through the outer wall of said elbow, a motor disposed forwardly of said fan casing and having a shaft parallel to the fan shaft, a partition secured to the suction chamber in engagement with the outer face of said outer wall of the elbow and projecting forwardly beyond said motor shaft, both of said shafts projecting through said partition, a cover covering the motor and said elbow, a bottom plate secured to the suction chamber and projecting laterally from said partition below the mean level of said shafts, said cover having a side wall the lower region of which meets the outer edge region of said bottom plate to form a drive housing, and drive mechanism connecting said shafts and housed within said housing, said bottom plate being inclined downwardly and forwardly to meet the top wall of said body portion and said top wall V forming the bottom of the belt'housing from the 11. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, including a body portion and an elbow com municating with and projecting upwardly from said body portion and having a lateral outlet, a fan casing having an inlet associated with said outlet, an impeller in said casing, a shaft on which said impeller is mounted, projecting through said outlet and through'the outer wall of said elbow, a motor disposed forwardly of said fan casing and having a shaft parallel to the fan shaft, a partition secured to the suction chamber in engagement with the outer face of said outer wall of the elbow and projecting forwardly beyond said motor shaft, both of said shafts projecting through said partition, a cover covering the motor and said elbow, a bottom plate secured to the suction chamber and projecting laterally from said partition below the mean level of said shafts, said cover having a side wall the lower region of which meets the outer edge region of said bottom plate to form a drive housing, and drive mechanism connecting said shafts and housed within said housing, said cover being raisable while the bottom plate remains stationary, and an edging of packing material along the upper edge of said partition, against which said cover is sealed.

12. In a vacuum cleaner, a fan casing, a suction chamber including a portion communicating with the inlet of said fan casing, a boss formed in the wall of said portion opposite the inlet of said fan casing, a sleeve having an enlarged outer end region mounted in said boss, said sleeve projecting through said inlet, a bearing bushing mounted in the said enlarged region of the sleeve, a fan impeller in the fan casing, and a shaft journalled in said bearing, sheathed in said sleeve in the region of passage of the dust laden air stream, and carrying said impeller.

13. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a motor mounted thereon, its shaft horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner movement, a fan positioned rearwardly of said motor, its shaft being parallel to the motor shaft, a casing for said fan, an air duct connecting the fan casing to the suction chamber, a drive connecting said shafts, a bottom plate secured to the suction chamber and projecting laterally below said drive, and a cover covering the motor, said duct, and said drive, said cover having a side wall the lower region of which meets the outer region of said bottom plate to form a drive housing, said cover being raisable while the bottom plate remains stationary.

14. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber including a bottom plate secured to the top outer portion thereof, a motor mounted thereon, its

shaft horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner movement, a fan positioned rearwardly of said motor, its shaft being parallel to the motor shaft, a casing for said fan, an air duct connecting the fan casing to the suction chamber, a drive connecting said shafts, and a cover covering the motor, said duct, and said drive, said cover having a side wall the lower region of which meets the outer region of said bottom plate to form a drive housing,

15. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a motor mounted on said chamber and having its shaft horizontal and extending transversely of the normal direction of cleaner movement, a fan positioned rearwardly of said motor and having its shaft parallel to said motor shaft, said fan including a casing provided with oppositely disposed suction inlets, said fan shaft carrying op amass!) 5 positeiy disposed impeller means positioned between said suction inlets, oppositely disposed air ducts providing suction communication between said suction inlets and said suction chamber, said i'an shaft extending outwardly through said suction inlets and having its opposite end portions extending through the opposite outer walls of said air ducts, driving means connecting the corresponding ends of said motor shaft and said 10 Ian shait, oppositely disposed plates positioned under said driving means and carried at each DEWEY u now. 

